Serpentine belt, grr!

[ogatrulle]

Got radiator replaced in the 06 V70 2.5T with help of Boy earlier this week. He even did a little wrenching (no, it's THAT way to loosen), so I'm duly proud. It's a start.

Yesterday I began on the timing belt/water pump. Only made it as far as the serpentine belt. After getting a T60 "socket" (WTF, Volvo!) and retracting the tensioner, belt came off. However, oops, now I can't get the socket+breaker bar out. In the process of fiddling with it I also managed to break the direction lever on the breaker ratchet.

Hmm, maybe I can just unbolt the tensioner. Nope, looks like there is YET ANOTHER special tool to get the ECM out of the way, which I don't yet have in my toolbox.

I might be able to push the engine with a crowbar just slightly to larboard enough to clear the T60 bit, maybe 1/2 inch. Grr.

[mrbrian200]

Did you remove the ECM cover? If not this gives an extra inch or two of clearance to get tools in the belt area which makes all the difference. 2 or 3 release tabs and pull it straight up. I seem to recall having trouble getting tools in there when I did my t-belt/tensioners and pulling the cover off the ECU was my easy solution. You merely have to be mindful not to put weight on or bend over the exposed modules as they're still attached to their connectors and normally held fast by grooves in the sides of that cover.

[oragex]

I think I have the same tensioner on my 2003 non turbo. What I do is I never use the torx socket. I just use my 14mm socket/ratchet over the center bolt and I release the tension this way (not sure clock or counter clockwise). Granted, as you noticed, it takes a rather flat headed ratchet, and a 14mm socket that's not too long - mine happened to fit juuust in there without pushing the engine side wise. Also, really important, I had this long extensible handle ratchet or used an extension over the handle. A regular length ratchet won't work. This belt is an a** to put back on as well.

I usually only toss the p/s reservoir away but as above, if you remove the ECM covers and leave the modules in place you'll get a little more space

[ogatrulle]

Did you remove the ECM cover?

I didn't realize it came off independently. In any case, the head of the breaker bar was wedged directly outboard of the tensioner, which put it against the inner fender sheet metal. Slight "give", but not easy to work with.

I did succeed with a 4-foot crowbar. Put the tip between the body of the T60 socket and the tensioner, and levered against the engine hoist bracket a few inches above it. That moved the engine a little and the inner fender a little, and got the bit just out of the hole and wedged against the tensioner adjacent to the hole. Banged the bit toward the front of the car about a half inch with a shorter pry bar and hammer until it cleared the tensioner flange, and done.

[ogatrulle]

I just use my 14mm socket/ratchet over the center bolt and I release the tension this way (not sure clock or counter clockwise).

If my tensioner has a bolt, it must be covered with a cap. I'll see if I can pry it off to access the bolt head.

Thanks! Filed for future reference

[oragex]

I think there is a small cap over it, just give it a kick with a longer flat screw driver

[jonesg]

I cut about 1/8th inch off the end of my torx bit with a grinder to allow room.

[mrbrian200]

I've utilized both of those methods before...crow bar...socket on the pulley bolt...

Come to think of it I didn't buy a T-60 for the Volvo. I think I used a socket on the pulley bolt with a simple breaker bar (a ratchet was too big even with the ecu cover off so I didn't try it). That bolt is reverse thread on most vehicles, the direction you need to pry to remove the belt is the same direction to tighten that bolt so grabbing it with a socket isn't going to loosen it.